Abstract: An antenna apparatus capable of generating scanning beams through a range of 0°-90° is provided. The antenna apparatus includes one or more rows of antenna elements, with the antenna elements in each row being arranged in pairs. The elements within a pair are separated by a distance of about lambda/four, and the pairs are separated by a distance of about lambda/two, where lambda is the wavelength of the center frequency of signals transmitted from the antenna apparatus. Transmit/receive circuitry may be electrically connected to each pair of antenna elements, with the signal to elements within a pair having a phase quadrature relationship so that the pair of antenna elements generates a scanning beam in one direction and a control pattern null is achieved in another direction. A control system controls the generation of a scanning beam output by the antenna apparatus.

Abstract: An antenna pattern disposed on a three-dimensional object is used to optimize gain, beam pattern, polarization response, or other qualities despite or independently of physical orientation. In the preferred embodiment a fractal array is used on a polyhedron, though non-fractal and other self-replicating antenna patterns may be generated through the use of additional transformations and candidate geometric shapes to achieve patterns which are not only arbitrary in terms of wavelength/frequency, but also permit variable radiation patterns and variable polarization other desirable criteria. In addition to the use of variable scaling, geometric patterns, and the like, multiple structures may be placed within the same spatial footprint to permit reception over more bands. As an alternative to a fixed pattern with switches used to swap elements or change feed points, a reconfigurable multi-dimensional array may be used having an active area optimized to maximize reception for a desired frequency and/or direction.

Abstract: A method for beamforming signals for an array of receiving or transmitting elements includes the steps of selecting a beam elevation and azimuth and grouping elements of an antenna array into element ensembles that are substantially aligned with a wavefront projection on the antenna array corresponding to the selected beam elevation and azimuth.

Abstract: The at least five simultaneous equations include at least five unknown quantities, namely, a reference time, an error of a clock for measuring a diffusion-code reception time for each of the satellites and the 3-dimensional coordinates of the receiver. The diffusion code is transmitted from each of the satellites at a diffusion-code transmission time expressed as a sum of a time having a value represented by digits expressing a number equal to or greater than one unitary time corresponding to one period of the diffusion code and a time having a value represented by digits expressing a number smaller than the unitary time. The time represented by the digits expressing a number equal to or greater than the unitary time is represented by a sum of the reference time which is a time common to all the satellites and the differential time which varies from satellite to satellite.

Abstract: A method and device for determining a temporal point of reference when receiving a radio signal, especially in a mobile radio system. The radio signal is received with a time-variant received strength in a temporally indeterminate manner. A received-strength determining unit determines the received strength as a function of the time of reception for a plurality of evaluation time intervals, a time base being defined repetitively for each of the evaluation time intervals. An averaging unit averages the received strength over the evaluation time intervals, the received strengths in each case resulting in a mean time-dependent received strength at identical times with respect to the individual time bases. A time-determining unit determines the temporal point of reference from the mean received strength as a function of time.

Abstract: A computer program product, apparatus, and method for use in determining the position of a user terminal includes receiving at the user terminal a digital television (DTV) broadcast signal transmitted by a DTV transmitter; tracking a periodic component of the DTV signal using a delay-lock loop (DLL), including selecting an observation interval based on the timing of the periodic component, and turning on a portion of the DLL during the observation interval, and turning the portion off otherwise; and determining a pseudo-range between the user terminal and the DTV transmitter based on the DTV broadcast signal; and wherein the position of the user terminal is determined based on the pseudo-range and a location of the DTV transmitter.

Abstract: A GPS-inertial system that is suited to new installations as well as the retrofitting of GPS receivers includes inertial sensors that are incorporated into the housing of the GPS antenna. The outputs of the inertial sensors are modulated onto a radio frequency carrier that has the same frequency as the GPS carrier, using the same data modulation arrangement as that used by the GPS system. The inertial measurements are thus sent to the receiver on the same cable as the RF signals from the antenna, and the receiver recovers the data from the sensor signals with the same arrangement that is used for data recovery from GPS position signals. Consequently, software modifications of existing GPS receivers can provide position and velocity estimates generated from the outputs of the inertial sensors.

Abstract: A wireless communication base station consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention collects user transmissions and creates and maintains a database storing data that relates communication parameters to a geographic location. A base station receiver receives data packets containing data describing a geographic location of a mobile communication node. The base station predicts a future geographic location of the mobile communication node, and transmits communication parameters to the mobile communication node associated with the predicted future geographic location. The mobile communication node consistent with certain embodiments of the invention has a GPS positioning device that determines a geographic location of the communication node. A transceiver transmits data representing the geographic location and receives data representing communication parameters determined as a function of the data representing the geographic location.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for determining geolocation of a mobile transmitter is provided. The apparatus and the method utilize an orthogonal projection of a source signal to canceling interference from the source signal in the geolocation process.

Abstract: Two or more receivers of known location receive RF bursts from a wireless moving object containing a transmitter that transmits periodic RF bursts. The receivers are gated with precision swept timing that repeats at the exact transmit RF burst period to produce precision expanded time representations of the received RF bursts. The expanded time representations correspond to RF burst arrival times from the transmitter, which are used to calculate the location of the transmitter. A writing pen application includes an RF transmitter in a writing pen and four RF receivers beneath the surface of a writing tablet where RF propagation from the pen to the receivers cannot be blocked by a user's hand. Two RF transmitters, one located at each end of the pen, may be employed to measure pen tilt and for 3-D tracking. Spatial resolution is more than 600 dpi at 100 location fixes per second.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, the invention discloses a method comprising determining a position of a mobile device; and controlling access to said mobile device based on said position. According to another embodiment of the invention there is provided a mobile device comprising a positioning mechanism to determine a position a mobile device; and a controlling mechanism to control access to said mobile device based on said position.

Abstract: There is provided a navigation system. In the navigation system, a navigation device determines route guidance time points using comprehensive route guidance information and sensor information and generates specific route guidance information, a portable terminal provides the comprehensive route guidance information and displays the specific route guidance information received from the navigation device, and a connector connects the portable terminal to the navigation device.

Abstract: A bi-static radar system is disclosed. The bi-static radar system comprises a system of positioning signal transmitters transmitting positioning signals, at least one of the positioning system signal transmitters being carried on a pseudolite. The bi-static radar system also comprises a receiving platform, the receiving platform having at least two antennas, a first antenna receiving positioning signals from the positioning signal transmitters, and a second antenna receiving reflected positioning signals from a target.

Abstract: A weather radar antenna for radiating a desired beam formed by feeding quadrants of the antenna uses a dual-mode switched aperture antenna feed. The dual-mode switched antenna feed has an input divider that splits the input signal. A left switch switches the split input signal using a left first diode and a left second diode to top left and bottom right quadrants of the antenna. A right switch switches the split input signal using a right first diode and a right second diode to top right and bottom left quadrants of the antenna. The diodes are forward and reverse biased as required to feed top, bottom, left and right portions of the antenna to obtain the desired beam. When all the diodes are reversed biased the split signal is fed to all quadrants of the antenna.

Abstract: In a service system of an air conditioner connected through a network to a monitoring center, the air conditioner receives radio wave transmitted from a GPS satellite to transmit information of the received radio wave and a manufacturer's serial number on the air conditioner to the monitoring center and the monitoring center performs service of the air conditioner on the basis of the received information and the serial number. The service system of the air conditioner can perform service, update or renewal, maintenance and the like of an air conditioner more correctly and exactly and attain speedup thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving a sectored or multi beam antenna configuration and corresponding method of level loading amplifiers is suitable for use in a transmitter. The apparatus includes a plurality of Fourier Transform Matrix (FTM) devices 501, each FTM device having a plurality of outputs 513 and a plurality of inputs 511; where the plurality of outputs of an FTM device 503 include a first output A1 and a second output B2 arranged to be coupled, respectively to a first antenna array 403 and a second antenna array 405 and these antenna arrays are included in a plurality of antenna arrays collectively comprising the antenna configuration where the first antenna array and the second antenna array corresponding to different sectors and beams, and a plurality of amplifiers 517, 519, 521, 523 corresponding to each of the FTM devices, where one of the plurality of amplifiers coupled to and driving each of the plurality of inputs.

Abstract: A method of tracking changes in position of a plurality of remote stations, each having, the method comprising: (a) assigning a plurality of transmission slots to each of the remote stations; (b) determining, by the respective stations, of their positions; (c) initially transmitting, by the respective stations of their positions; (d) determining, by the respective stations, of their positions, relative to the previously determined and transmitted positions; and (e) subsequently transmitting, by the respective stations, of the determined relative positions, wherein the slots themselves indicate the relative determined position and wherein the determined relative position is indicated by the presence or absence of a signal in one or more of said plurality of slots.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for computing GPS receiver position without using absolute time information transmitted by the satellite or by an alternative source of timing available at the GPS receiver. The GPS receiver is contained in an integrated receiver that also includes a wireless communication transceiver, but does not have access to an accurate source of absolute time information. The wireless transceiver communicates through a wireless network to a server. The GPS receiver measures satellite pseudoranges and uses the wireless communication transceiver to send the pseudoranges to the server. The server fits the pseudoranges to a mathematical model in which the GPS receiver position and the absolute time are unknown parameters. The server then computes a position and absolute time that best fit the model, thus yielding the correct position for the GPS receiver, and the absolute time at which the pseudorange measurements were made.

Abstract: A system for locating electromagnetic signal sources via the rotational Doppler effect whereby a radar station generating electromagnetic signals, such as radar frequency signals, initially scans the sky for aircraft. An aircraft having the system operationally installed thereon and utilizing apparatus or navigational systems already present on the aircraft receives radar signals. The system is programmed to capture radar signal parameters and extract the rotational Doppler frequencies induced by the motion of the aircraft. The angular velocity of the host platform is often the dominant source of this frequency; however, lateral velocity is not detrimental to the process. The measurement of the rotational Doppler frequency is accomplished through antennas presently installed on large numbers of military aircraft with no requirement for phase calibration of the electrical paths between antennas and receiver.

Abstract: A digital GPS receiver includes electronics to detect the presence of multipath GPS signals, determine the direction from which they are received at a multi-element GPS phased array antenna, adaptively generate an antenna pattern to provide gain in the direction of the desired GPS satellite signal, and to apply nulls in the direction of the detected GPS multipath signals. This adaptively-generated antenna pattern is applied to the signals received at the elements of the GPS phased array antenna to provide a composite signal to each of the processing channels of the digital GPS receiver, optimized for the particular GPS satellite being tracked by a corresponding channel.